Flew out of DFW (D gates) and was routed down the Pre lane. Not for the first time. Yes I have AA status and Global entry, but no US passport.

Regular line was quiet and it was definitely something on the boarding card that triggered the TSA agent doing ID's to push me down that lane.

Has the US citizen rule changed? I didn't think it had.

I've only done PreCheck at A & C, so I'm not sure, but maybe the Priority AAccess lane is co-located with PreCheck at D? Or maybe they just confuse Priority AAcess with PreCheck, which I'd totally believe. Actually, I can't even recall if the lines are different at A&C, maybe someone who pays more attention can confirm.

They keep mentioning random screening procedures...maybe one of them is the occasional foreign national is allowed through?

I just reread the rules, and it still states US citizens. There must have been an error along the way and you got identified as a citizen.

?? How do you have Global Entry without a US passport? I thought it was limited to US passport holders. Do you use the GE kiosks when you arrive in the US after an international flight with a non-US passport?

Different airports and checkpoints are configured differently. Did the TSO who looked at your ID scan it? If you are Pre-cleared (not the same as Pre-eligible), the scanner will give 3 beeps. There's no manual way for the TSO to determine from your boarding pass if you are Pre-cleared for a particular flight.

Even if you are using a TrustedTraveler ID (GE, NEXUS, etc), that only means you are eligible to be in a Pre-Check entry lane (which may be the same as the elite lane). You will not be Pre-cleared for expedited screening unless your boarding class scans OK.

Did you keep your shoes on, laptop/LGAs in your bags? Generally the TSOs manning the xray will advise you of this if you are actually in a post-TDC Pre-check lane.

At one airport I use, there is now a Pre-checker at the beginning of the elite/Pre-check shared line leading to the TDC. Some folks (non-elites) were presenting as Pre-check candidates, thinking it was a way to get into a shorter (elite) line to the TDC, since you don't have to present a Pre-check ID of any sort, you just get your BP scanned (and some Pre-check eligible folks still fail).

Now they've gotten wise to that. At the airport I'm referring to, there are two people checking you before you can enter the elite/Pre shared lane leading to the TDC - you have to either clear the TSO scanning your BP for 3 beeps or the airline employee checking your BP for elite status.

The OP said he has status on AA, and I believe US citizenship isn't required for passengers with status. Look what it says about it on the TSA website, it says certain airline passengers with status, and members of Nexus and Global Entry who are US citizens.

Do they check your citizenship when you sign up for the frequent flyer programs? No, right? Do they record your citizenship in your account? No, right? Does the pre-check thing have anything to do with security? No, right? It's an effort to make the most frequent flyers (those with the most experience and understanding of TSA slovenliness, incompetence, and abuse, and the greatest ability and inclination to lobby against the TSA) into �bermenschen by giving them an experience that everyone else should get but doesn't. It's an effort to keep them quiet.

Adding Nexus and GE is an afterthought - somebody had the idea that DHS has DONE a background check on Nexus and GE members so it makes sense to give them the special experience too. Nexus and GE take citizenship information, so TSA is able to discriminate between US- and non-US citizen members of those programs. They have no easy way to discriminate between US- and non-US frequent flyers, so I don't think they do, and I don't read the rules as indicating that they do.

Any Canadian with Nexus automatically got Global Entry. But it doesn't get us Pre-check.

Wow, I didn't know that. So you get to use the GE kiosks when entering the US?

Latest GEOS eligibility ...

Global Entry is open to U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, Dutch citizens, South Korean citizens and Mexican nationals. Canadian citizens and residents may enjoy Global Entry benefits through membership in the NEXUS program.

GE (as others have stated) is open to US PR's (I have a Green Card), so that piece is fine.

It was definitely the scan of the boarding pass (which was actually a stand by doc) that triggered the use of the Pre lane. Shoes stayed on, nothing came out of bags and the TSO checking ID's said to enjoy doing security the way it used to be.

This is the third time it has happened and 2 of them were in Dallas.

As Carl states, there isn't a check done by AA, but I believe you do need to input your nationality in the AA website when entering Trusted Traveler details. I have my GE number in, but have not completed the passport/nationality piece at all.

If it's a breakdown between the airlines and TSA then it does seem to be a major weakness.

Well...not really.

I don't think there's much risk that the 'expedited' screening you receive via Pre is going to leave gaping holes in the security screening.

After all, two of the 'benefits' are the ability to keep shoes and light outerwear on. That 'benefit' has already been extended to kids under 12 and adults 75 and older.

I suspect the xray will be staffed with more experienced techs who are capable of spotting the LGA bag without removal, and with so many travellers carrying Ipads/ereaders/netbooks (which generally don't get removed anyway), it's just not that much more of a risk to allow laptops to stay in the bag.

The 'sterile area' is called that for a reason - security isn't so much about who gets past security as it is about what gets past security. Pre might possibly leave gaps in the former; the latter, not so much.

I don't disagree with your point on the who/what gets through and that the level or thoroughness of checks performed should not be based on which line you use.

However, there is no use of a whole body scanner on the Pre line, which does reduce the level of total screening relating to items you can carry on your body. I could carry a 8" ceramic knife through a metal detector and it won't go off - would be spotted in a heart beat using a body scanner.

To be clear on the point I was trying to make and didn't articulate as clearly as I should have done - if AA is telling TSA that I am good to go for Pre and no one is validating that decision, then that is a weakness.

They don't, certainly to the extent that they can't. Plenty of non-citizens are getting PreCheck through status.

That changes on November 15th.

You can add the UK and Germany (both on a pilot basis) to the list.

AA isn't telling TSA anything about safety. TSA made a list of criteria and gave it to AA. All AA does is make a list of travelers that meet that criteria and give it to the TSA such that the travelers are identifiable to SecureFlight every time a PNR goes its way.

Is this going to be reciprocal or would I still have to apply (and pay) on a country by country basis (costly)? Last I knew, that's how it was with Privium (expensive, only got expedited processing at AMS).

Interested in this .... as of November 15th Canadians lose their Global Entry? or as of November 15th, we will be qualified for Pre-check ...